Your simple gift changed his life!

FALL 2012
A newsletter from Shoes That Fit
Your simple
gift changed
his life!
Aaron’s Inc. Helps Ohio Students (pg. 2)
Kids Helping Kids (pg. 5)
Nordstrom & New Balance
Making Holidays Brighter (back cover)
Our Mission
The mission of Shoes That Fit is to provide new shoes to children in need so they can
attend school in comfort and with dignity, better prepared to learn and play.
This issue made possible by a generous donation from Claremont Print and Copy.
From the Executive Director
Roni Lomeli
Executive Director
Shoes That Fit
Oh, how the year is racing by, our 20th anniversary
celebration behind us and here we are at the start of
the holiday season.
We are in the midst of our busiest time here at Shoes That Fit; children settling
into the new school year, finding their place among their fellow classmates. After
the huge back to school push to get the new shoes to children in need to start the
school year off right, we are now facing the dilemma of how to help the children
still in need of shoes this holiday season.
I don’t have to tell you how tough times are for so many struggling families. When
it’s a choice of food on the table or a new pair of shoes for school – food has to
prevail. These children just want to fit in and a new pair of shoes will help them do
that, allowing a sigh of relief for the family and a smile on a happy child’s face.
This holiday season please consider making a gift of new shoes in honor of a
loved one. We will send a card with a personalized message from you. Your gift in
any amount is appreciated.
Be sure to read in this issue of Shoes News about the incredible shoe donations
that came to us from a group of determined “tweens”, aka, The Shoe Crew. I love
seeing kids today really do something worthwhile to help those less fortunate as
I’m sure you do, too. These young people are our future. My thanks to every one
of you who put a smile on the faces of children in need by providing them with
new shoes this holiday season.
Sincerely,
1 Steps Ahead
Calling All Corporate Partners!
◆Do you work for a great company?
◆Do you and your fellow coworkers want to help children in
need where you live and work?
◆Do you want to give back to your own community?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, we can help you get
started putting new shoes on the feet of children in need.
There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the smiles of children
who can focus on their studies instead of their circumstances, all
because of a new pair of shoes.
Let us show your employer how simple the Shoes That Fit program
is and how rewarding it will be to directly impact children in your
community. Here’s what just a few of our corporate partners have to
say about the benefits of partnering with Shoes That Fit:
“Shoes That Fit is an important part of the community.
They run a very efficient operation and do a good job of
keeping their expenses down to ensure that resources
are going to help children in need. Given our shoe
background, it’s a great marriage. They do terrific work
and we are really proud to be associated with them.”
—Blake Nordstrom, President, Nordstrom, Inc.
Aaron’s, Inc. Amazes
Ohio Students!
Aaron’s, Inc. presented the entire
Eastgate Elementary student body
with shoes as part of its ongoing
partnership with the Shoes That Fit
program.
This Ohio Shoes That Fit chapter
was organized in 2009 by Aaron’s
associate Sarajane Jeffries and since
that time has donated 1,333 pairs of
shoes to Columbus-area schools.
The donation was made as part
of ACORP, Aaron’s Community
Outreach Program, which supports
neighborhoods and communities
across the country where Aaron’s
stores are located.
Aaron’s, Inc. is a leader in sales
and lease ownership of furniture,
electronics, home appliances and
accessories with stores across 48
states & Canada.
“To us, working with Shoes That Fit is a no-brainer.
Volunteerism and impacting the communities where
we live and work are a key part of our values as a
corporation. This is a way for us to demonstrate who we
are and what we’re about.”
—John Murphy, Corporate Director of Risk and Benefits,
Golden State Foods
Call our office today and let’s get started helping children in your
community! 888-715-4333
Fall 2012 2
Kids Say it Best
Thank you for the shoes.
I wish I have a great long time with these
shoes. I hope I don’t rip. I appreciate.
Have a great Christmas!
~ Sincurly, Eduardo Pedro
Thank you Shoes That Fit for my cute,
cute shoes they are perfect. I can
run very fast in them. They are very
comefterbal. Thank you Shoes That Fit!!
~ Love, Aria
Thank you for choosing Madison or us the
need it children.
This days or time we need them the most
I really appciated. Thanks for having a
big heart. Hope u can do it around the
word.
3 Steps Ahead
~From, Haili
Thank you for the shoes.
They’re very cool. My Mom and Dad will
be so glad I got them. Your service has
been great to many others. I can tell!
~ Antoine L.
Dear People,
I am great ful for a lot of thing, but
especialy the shoes. What a good thing
because my shoes are getting old and it’s
just great. Thank you guys.
~ Sincely, Oscar
Fall 2012 4
One Summer. Twenty Kids. Ten Events.
2,407 Pairs of New Shoes
Holiday Giving is
almost here!
In many ways, Kayla Tinucci seems like your typical teenager. But when Kayla
heard about the many children in need being helped by Shoes That Fit, she
began an amazing & generous labor of love. Working with her brother Justin
and mom Jennifer on the idea of “kids helping kids,” The Shoe Crew was born!
Justin and Kayla enlisted the support of 18 of their friends to help children in
need receive new shoes through Shoes That Fit. They were determined to do
something BIG.
As we head into this holiday season,
Shoes That Fit is thankful for our
generous supporters and volunteers
who made possible the donation of over
1 Million pairs of new shoes over the past
20 years! Children across the country are
given hope through the simple gift
of a new pair of shoes and YOU make
that possible.
They set a lofty goal of filling a
warehouse full of new athletic
shoes and by the end of summer
found they had exceeded their
original goal of 2,000 pairs.
Starting with a summer kickoff Launch Party at the Malibu
Country Club, this amazing group
of young people coordinated 10
events, each with an admission
price of one pair of shoes. The
Shoe Crew offered fun-filled
events such as Indoor Sky Diving
and Skating & Kart Racing. Among their many
generous sponsors was Vlado Footwear, which gave a matching donation of
shoes for every pair donated through the events. The Shoe Crew will be topping
off their summer with a black-tie Sneaker Ball in September. Shoes That Fit is in
awe of this amazingly generous group of young people. Bravo, Shoe Crew!
Your holiday giving can
be easy and do double
duty this year. When you
donate to Shoes That Fit
in honor or in memory of
someone, we will send
a personalized card
featuring a thank you note
from a child helped by
our program. OR, instead
of the usual workplace
gift exchange or “secret
Santa”, ask your coworkers
to purchase a new pair of
athletic shoes or make a
donation of any amount to
Shoes That Fit.
Your generous, tax-deductible donation
will make the holidays brighter for
children in need of new shoes. Donate
securely online now: www.ShoesThatFit.
org or call us toll free at 888-715-4333
Thank you for this honor!
S
hoes That Fit has been named Nonprofit of the Year by
Claremont Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding Service
to the Community! There are many wonderful charitable
organizations based here in Claremont, CA so Shoes That
Fit is honored to have been chosen for this inaugural award.
“Shoes That Fit is uniquely efficient and effective in life-changing
operations,” said Maureen Aldridge, Chamber chief executive officer.
“Today, Shoes That Fit is helping children in need in thousands of
schools not just here in Claremont, but across America.” Of course,
we could not continue our work without the support of our amazing
volunteers and donors like you!
5 Steps Ahead
Spotlight on Sole Mates
L
Modern Woodmen’s new
Facebook campaign to
donate up to $10,000 to
provide kids with new
shoes that fit
A
new campaign launched on Modern
Woodmen of America’s facebook page will
benefit Shoes That Fit with a donation up to
$10,000! Modern Woodmen, a fraternal financial
services organization, will donate $1 to Shoes
That Fit for every new ‘Like’ they receive on their
fan page. The goal is to reach 10,000 fans by the
end of 2012.
Here’s how you can help:
Visit www.facebook.com/modernwoodmen
and ‘LIKE’ the page. That’s it!
You can also spread the word to your facebook
friends to help us reach the $10,000 goal. Help
children in need receive new shoes through Shoes
That Fit with a simple click of your mouse!
ouise & John Strasser always knew they wanted to help children
in need. They discovered our organization when their company’s
insurance broker, Roni Lomeli, mentioned she was involved with
a great charity called Shoes That Fit that provides local kids with
new shoes. Louise looked into the organization and was impressed by
how wisely donations were spent and knew she wanted to become a part
of the Shoes That Fit family.
“I saw that a fantastic purpose was being served and, more importantly,
you make every dollar count.” says Strasser. “I can’t imagine a child going
to school without shoes or in shoes that are too tight or torn!”
After 22 years, Roni left the insurance industry to become Executive
Director of Shoes That Fit. She started a program called ‘Sole Mates’
that encouraged donors to make automatic monthly contributions
through credit cards or checking accounts. Louise was among the first to
participate.
“It was so easy! Since moving from Southern California to our vineyard
here in Napa, life has been busy. I know that my Sole Mate donation each
month is being used wisely and I feel great knowing that I’m helping kids
through Shoes That Fit.” said Louise.
Individuals like Louise and John Strasser help Shoes That Fit continue the
important work of providing new shoes to schoolchildren in need. If you’d
like to become a Sole Mate, go online now to www.ShoesThatFit.org and
click ‘Donate’ or call our office: 888-715-4333.
“I can’t imagine a child going to
school without shoes or in shoes
that are too tight or torn!”
Greensboro church meets basic need with Shoes That Fit
T
he Rev. Ken Fuehler, who heads
the Loving Savior Lutheran
Church in Greensboro, NC,
and his wife Cheryl have
been helping kids at Washington
Montessori through Shoes That Fit
since 2008. Pairing up with Rack
Room Shoes, which provides the
shoes at a discount, the congregation
has provided 245 pairs of shoes and
spread to 4 additional sites since then.
“It’s a ministry that affects children in
a tangible way,” said Ken.
“One of the most precious stories
we heard was about a student who
walked to school every day in her
old shoes, changing into her new
shoes when she got to school so
that she wouldn’t get them dirty,”
said Cheryl.
“The kids get excited when
they see me measuring,” said
Ingrid Weathers, social worker
at Washington. “One positive
thing can make so much of a
difference.”
Fall 2012 6